Galery

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The extraordinary taxes, which the socialist government of George Papandreou introduces in a last attempt to somehow patch the state budget bursting at the seams, never end. After the extraordinary meeting of the government, which met this weekend in Thessaloniki, in order to open the traditional International Fair, Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos announced a new additional tax.
    This time it is on the property and will be paid over the next two years. It will range between 0.5 and 10 euros per square meter floor space and it will be collected through the electricity bills of the property owners. I.e. every average Greek property owner will pay 4 euros per square meter. Tax shall be imposed backdated from February 1^st, 2011. This year it will be charged at once, and for 2012 it will be deducted in installments.
    Top financier of the country said he would hold back one salary of all elected officials - from the president of the republic, to the secretary generals of ministries and municipal mayors. Evangelos Venizelos promised that the budget for 2012 will be voted on no later than the end of October and urged all families owners of large shipping companies that they also take part of the burden of financial austerity. As he said himself "the new measures are sufficient to take us out of the situation with honor."
    "You do not stop the recession with measures that cause deeper recession," was the comment of the spokesman of the opposition New Democracy Yannis Mihelakis. "The contradictions within the cabinet, as well as its failure to implement the reforms have led to more extraordinary taxes. The government must now understand that the Greeks can not handle an even greater tax burden," he said emphatically.